JOHANNESBURG, Oct 7 – South Africa will prioritize the procurement of 9.6 gigawatts of battery storage and gas-to-power capacity as it implements its long-term electricity strategy, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said on Wednesday.
The initial phase will comprise 4.6 GW of battery storage systems and 5 GW of gas-to-power projects, according to Ramokgopa.
The projects form part of South Africa’s broader plan to add more than 105 GW of new electricity generation capacity by 2039, under the country’s Integrated Resource Plan. Renewable energy is expected to account for more than half of the additional capacity as South Africa gradually reduces its dependence on coal-fired generation.
Allocations for additional wind and solar capacity will be made at a later stage, Ramokgopa said.
Battery Storage to Support Renewables
South Africa currently has five battery storage projects with a combined capacity of 513 MW. The government expects a larger deployment of storage technology to improve the utilisation of renewable power that can currently remain stranded because of limitations on the electricity grid.
Battery systems can help absorb excess electricity generated by solar and wind projects and release it when demand is higher, potentially improving the reliability and flexibility of a power system with a growing share of intermittent renewable generation.
On the gas side, South Africa is currently assessing proposals from four shortlisted consortia seeking to develop 2 GW of gas-to-power capacity.
The country’s latest Integrated Resource Plan provides for as much as 16 GW of gas-fired generation in the energy mix by 2039, highlighting the role the government expects gas to play alongside renewable energy and storage as the electricity system evolves.
The sequencing of battery and gas procurement ahead of additional wind and solar capacity reflects the government’s focus on strengthening system flexibility and ensuring that new renewable generation can be integrated into the grid as South Africa expands its power supply.
